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Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
WEDNESDAY
September 26, 2001
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vol. CXLIV, no. 20 (www.dailytrojan.com
Feeling Villaraigosa gets personal
Try to laugh
HEALTH & MEDICINE
By NEIL CHRISTOPHER APELES
Staff Writer
Laughter is known as an audible sound of joy, but it may also be a silent killer of pain, according to an ongoing study at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center.
The Jonsson Cancer Center Rx Laughter study focuses on the effects of laughter on sick children, using subjective and objective data in responses to stress and pain.
The objective information includes measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, duration of pain tolerance and saliva cortisol levels. The body releases cortisol and epinephrine hormones in response to stressful situations, according to the research. The body’s stress response may adversely affect the immune system, therefore slowing the healing process and depressing the body's natural defenses.
According to previous research, however, humor, has had the opposite effect
UCLA’s study began when Sherry Hilber, a former television executive, collaborated with researchers at UCLA. She solicited funds for the study from relatives of great comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Harpo Marx and Lou Costello.
“We’re just finishing the pilots right now and the analysis will follow,” said Dr. Margaret Stuber, professor of psychiatry at UCLA.
If the results show effective relief from pain, hospitals around the coun-
I see Madid im. page 111
Mason Poole I Daily Trojan
Lead the way. Former California Assemblyman and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa speaks to students about promoting the social, cultural and political awareness of Latinos at USC and in the community. Nuestra Alma Latina sponsored the event at El Centro Chicano before Villaraigosa spoke in Bovard Auditorium Tuesday.
Event Former assemblyman encourages determination, not frustration, for success
By SCOn MARTINDALE
Staff Writer
He grew up in a home with domestic violence. His role model was his single mother of four. And he saw the 1960s civil rights movement in Los Angeles.
Each of these experiences contributed to the independent attitude of Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayoral candidate of Los Angeles and the 63rd speaker of the California State Assembly.
Addressing a packed audience at Bovard Auditorium Tuesday evening, Villaraigosa used personal experiences and motivations to explain "how we become what we become,” the topic of a new lecture series sponsored by Spectrum and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
“I saw my mother beaten," Villaraigosa said. "1 was a high
school dropout. I'm not the model student, if you will."
But Villaraigosa, who grew up in the neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, viewed his underprivileged background and personal setbacks as motivation to succeed.
"You want to be the opposite of what you saw," he said. “I had to be on my own. That self-sufficiency played a role in shaping who 1 am today."
The civil rights movement of the 1960s empowered Villaraigosa, who is Latino, to tight for justice and equality at an early age.
"When you went to Alhambra or any of the bordering cities (of East Los Angeles) on your bike, you were stopped and told to go back home." Villaraigosa said. “Just like in the South, those experiences make you realize you had to change the world.”
Villaraigosa worked for decades in the political, civic, community and labor arenas. All the involvements forced him to maintain a positive attitude and not become disenchanted.
“You have to get over the injus-i see Event, page 13 I
Civil liberties discussed at Alternative Office Hours
Program: Student Senate sparks debate of changing civil liberties after attack
By LORI STUENKEL
Student Senate Writer
An equal mix of students, faculty and staff gathered over lunch in Alumni Park to informally discuss current events at Alternative Office Hours Tuesday afternoon.
A crowd of 115 people from a dozen departments on campus attended the program, sponsored by Student Senate and Program Board.
Keynote speaker Erwin Chemerinsky, professor of constitutional law and political science, spoke about how the country and the USC community can reconcile protecting civil liberties while also protecting national security.
"There needs to be careful analysis of all the proposals that would take away our freedom,” Chemerinsky said, referring to efforts by Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft to broadly expand law enforcement powers to combat terrorism.
“This would seem to give the government an easy way to curtail the Constitution," he said. “What troubles me most about what Ashcroft said is that it essentially writes the Fourth Amendment out.” The Fourth Amendment provides all citizens with the right to a trial by a neutral judge, and requires probable cause before an arrest is made.
The Constitution is intensely important because it “puts our most precious values in a document that is difficult to change,” he said.
Chemerinsky outlined four points for analyzing proposals that I see Office, page 13 l
There needs to be'careful analysis of all the proposals that would take away our freedom... This would seem to give the government an easy way to curtail the Constitution"
ERWIN CHEMERINSKY professorof constitutional law
Jeanne Kwok I Daily Troian
Talk to me. Matt Weir, Senate director of academic affairs speaks to Kaita Mpambara, an undeclared freshman.
Senate approves programming policy manual, plans town hall
Town Hall
“What Does America Look Like?’ town hall meeting 7 p.m. Monday GroundZero
Meeting: Origami project nearing completion, still unclear where on campus the 1,000 cranes will be displayed
By LORI STUENKEL
Student Senate Writer
on
Student Senate focused — upcoming programs and unanimously approved the 2001-2002 Program Board Programming Manual during its meeting Tuesday night
Senates project to create paper cranes for peace is making progress.
“Our goal is to have 1,000 cranes completed and unveiled Tuesday,” said YiShaun Chen, Senate chief of staff. “We have 811 so far."
A booth where students can make origami cranes is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Trousdale Parkway. The unveiling and dedication ceremony next Tuesday will also include fundraising activities.
The 1,000 cranes will be strung together and displayed somewhere on campus, but it is unclear exactly where, Chen said.
On Monday, Senates Minority Affairs committee is sponsoring a town hall meeting called “What Does America Look Like?" Students can attend and discuss .their opinions regarding the constant and changing diversity issues in the United States. The town hall meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in GroundZero.
Senators are also working with
University Residential Student Community to generate a petition to gain support for a new parking structure, to be located behind the Radisson Hotel.
“We need as many students’ signatures as possible,” said Edward Rhodes, director of campus affairs. “We believe there is a need for more parking, but we just need to prove it" The petition should be available sometime next week.
Senate also approved Program I see Senate, page 13 I
"We believe there is a need for more [Hirking, but nr just need to prove iL"
EDWARD RHODES director of campus affairs